UFC’s Nick Diaz suspended five years for marijuana

UFC welterweight Nick Diaz was handed a five-year suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday due to testing positive for marijuana for the third time, ESPN reports.

The NSAC’s decision comes from a failed post-fight drug test after Diaz lost to Anderson Silva at the UFC 183 event on January 31.

“I’m pretty pissed,” Diaz told members of the press after the hearing. “I got into this sport for this exact reason, being stuck in a room with people like that.

Diaz added:

“I wanted to tell them what I think. I wanted to tell each and every one of them they’re a bunch of dorks. Everybody who sees them or knows who they are should tell them that. I would if it weren’t for my experts advising me to keep my mouth shut. I wanted to get up and say, ‘Look. You guys are way the f— out of line.'”

Diaz, an admitted medical marijuana user hailing from Stockton, had received three different suspensions from the NSAC for marijuana use prior to the five-year ban.

News of Diaz’s ban has sparked many cannabis advocates, such as Tommy Chong and UFC announcer Joe Rogan, to express their disapproval of the NSAC’s sanctions.

5 yrs for weed in MMA? Not surprised. I got 9 months for bongs. Stop the persecution of MJ users! #FreeNickDiaz

Diaz’s opponent, Anderson Silva, also failed multiple drug tests by testing positive for anabolic steroids. Silva, however, was suspended for only one year and fined $380,000.

“That’s ridiculous,” Diaz told ESPN. “I never did steroids in my life. I know all the fighters, they are all on steroids. All you m—–f—— are on steroids. I already know that. Everybody knows that. I’m the only person in this sport, for the most part, that ain’t on steroids. Now there’s new rules in effect, yeah, you’ve got guys not on steroids now, but they used to be. They’ve always been on steroids. I don’t do steroids. I don’t break the rules.”

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